Motor-vehicle.



No. 890,173. PATEN'IED JUNE 9, 1908. J. & W. A. PHILLIPS.

. MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3.196.

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W/T/VESSES No. 890,173. PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908. J. & W. A. PHILLIPS.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 3.1906.

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PATENIED JUNBQ, 1908.

J. & W. A. PHILLIPS.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 3.1906.

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J ONATHAN PHILLIPS AND WILLIAM ANDREW PHILLIPS, OF RANDOLPH, WISOON SIN.

MOTOR-VEHICLE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 9, 1908.

Application filed August 3, 1906. Serial No. 329,033.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JONATHAN PHILLIPS and WILLIAM ANDREW PI-IILLIPs, both citi- Zens of the United States, and residents of Randolph, in the county of Dodge and State of INiscOnsin, have invented a new and Improved Motor-Vehicle, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to traction engines for automobiles and other power driven vehicles, and its object is to provide a new and improved motor vehicle, arranged to permit convenient steering and positive driving of the front wheels.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, which will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying' drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a side elevation of the improvement illustrated in the form of a traction engine; Fig. 2 is a front end view of the same Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the same on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 Fig. A is an enlarged transverse section of the improvement on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 Fig. 5is asectional side elevation of the same on the line 5-5 of Fig. A Fig. 6 is a rear face view of one of the front wheels, the front axle being shown in section; Fig. 7 is a similar view of the clutch mechanism for connecting the front axle with one of the front wheels, and Fig. 8 is a rear end elevation of part of the steering gear.

On the body A of the motor vehicle is arranged in the usual manner, the rear axle B carrying the rear wheels C of the vehicle, while the front wheels D, D are mounted on the front axle E and are connected by clutches E, F with the front axle E and a sleeve F respectively, the said sleeve F being mounted to turn on the said front axle at one side thereof, as plainly indicated in Fig. A. On the front axle E and the inner end of the sleeve F are secured the bevel gear wheels G, G having spherical backs on a common center and fitting into a ball socket II having hollow trunnions II and II2 mounted to turn in suitable bearings I attached to a frame I secured to the body A of the vehicle. The

dicated in Fig. 4, and the said socketfII is power driven, and for this purpose the outer end of the trunnion II is provided with a gear wheel H3 in mesh with a pinion J mounted to turn loosely on a stud J attached to the frame I. On the pinion J is secured a sprocket wheel J2 connected by a sprocket chain J 3 with a sprocket wheel J 4 (see Fig. l) mounted to turn on a stud J5 attached to the rear end of the vehicle body A, and on the said sprocket wheel J 4 is secured a gear wheel J6 in mesh with a pinion J7 secured on the main shaft Kl of the motor K of any approved construction and mounted on the vehicle body A.

Now, when the motor K is in operation a rotary motion is transmitted by the gearing described to the pinion J which rotates the gear wheel H3 and consequently the socket II. The inner or opposite toothed faces of the gear wheels G and G are in mesh with opposite sides of the bevel pinions L mounted loosely on radial studs L held in a spider L2 mounted to rotate loosely on the front axle E adjacent to the inner end of the sleeve F, as plainly indicated in Fig. 4. The pinions L extend in openings L3 formed in the spider L2, and two oppositely arranged studs L are extended beyond the peripheral surface of the spider L2 (see Fig. 5) and carry at their outer ends shoes L4 extending into segmental and transversely arranged grooves H4 formed in the socket I-I, so as to allow the spider L2 to rock in a transverse direction, it being understood that the said revolving socket I-I, the gear wheels G and G and the spider L2 and the parts carried thereby, all form a universal connection for the front axle E and its sleeve F, to permit the said axle and its sleeve to rockin any desired direction. Now, when the socket I-I is rotated as previously explained, then by being in engagement with the slices L4 the spider L2 is rotated, and the latter in rotating causes its bevel pinions L to rotate the bevel gear wheels G and G, so that both the front axle E and the sleeve F are simultaneously rotated, and by the clutches E', F cause a rotation of the front wheels D and D in the same direction. Thus, no matter in which direction the motor K is ruiming a corresponding turning motion is given to the front wheels D and D', that is, the vehicle can be run forward and backward according to the direction in which the motor K is run.

In order to steer the vehicle by turning the front axle E, the sleeve F and wheels D, D in the proper direction, the following arrangement is made: A segmental rack N has its ends N and N2 journaled on the front axle E and the sleeve F respectively, as plainly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4:, and the said rack N is in mesh with a pinion P secured on a shaft P journaled in suitable bearings arranged on the frame I', and on the shaft P is secured aY worm wheel P2 (see Fig. 1) in mesh with a Worm P3 having its shaft P4 j ournaled in suitable bearings on the frame l. On the shaft P4 is secured a bevel gear wheel P5 in mesh with a pinion P secured on the steering shaft P7 journaled in suitable bearings, of which one is attached to the frame I and the other to the body A, and the said steering shaft P7 extends rearwardly and upwardly, and carries at its rear end a hand wheel P8 under the control of the operator. ln order to support the middle portion of the rack N the under side thereof rests on friction rollers O journaled on an arm 0 fulcrumed on the shaft P previously mentioned, so that the turning of the pinion on the operator turning the hand wheel P8, causes a turning of the rack N and consequently of the front axle E and its sleeve F, to cause the front wheels D and D to travel in the corresponding direction, that is, either straight ahead or to the right or left according to the will of the operator turning the hand wheel PS. By the arrangement described the rack N and pinion P always remain in mesh even if the front axle E and its sleeve F are tilted, on the corresponding wheel D or D passing over a stone or other obstruction in the roadway.

The socket H is preferably made in halves folded together, to permit of conveniently assembling the several parts, and the bearings I are likewise madefin sections to permit of conveniently placing the socket H in position in the bearings.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by the arrangement described a positive transmission of the power of the motor K to the axle E and its sleeve F is had, and at the same time the front axle E and its sleeve F can be conveniently tilted into any desired direction to allow either of the wheels D or D to readily pass over obstructions in the roadway, and to permit of steering the vehicle in the desired direction, that is, either straight ahead or to the right or left, on the operators turning the hand wheel PS.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A driving gear for motor vehicles comprising a front axle, a clutch connected with the front axle for rotating one of the front wheels, a sleeve mounted to turn loosely on the front axle and provided with a clutch for rotating the other front wheel, gear wheels secured to the said front axle and the said sleeve common center, a ball socket in which the said gear wheels are mounted to turn, the said socket being provided at opposite sides with hollow 'flaring trunnions, a frame secured to the body of the vehicle and having spaced parallel bearings in which said trunnions are mounted to turn, the said front axle and sleeve extending freely through the openings in the hollow trunnions, a spider within the said socket and carrying pinions in mesh with the said gear wheels, the said spider being rotated by the said socket and driving means connected With the outer end of one of said trunnions for rotating the said socket.

2. A driving and steering gear for motor vehicles comprising a front axle carrying one of the front wheels, a sleeve on the axle carrying the other front Wheel, a universal driving connection for the said front axle and sleeve to drive the same and to allow the axle and sleeve to rock in any desired direction, a segmental rack journaled at its ends on the said front axle and sleeve, a driving pinion in mesh with the said rack and under the control of the operator, and a bearing for the said rack and fulcrumed on the shaft of the said pinion.

3. In a driving and steering gear for motor vehicles the combination with a front axle carrying one of the front wheels, a sleeve on the axle carrying the other front wheel, and a universal driving connection for the said front axle and sleeve to drive the same and to allow the sleeve and axle to rock in any de* sired direction, of a segmental rack journaled at its ends on the said front axle and sleeve respectively, the said rack being provided with teeth on its upper face, a driving pinion in mesh with the teeth of said rack and under the control of the operator, friction rollers on which the under side of said rack rests, and an arm fulcrumed on the shaft of said pinion and carrying said friction rollers.

4. A driving and steering gear for motor vehicles, comprising a front axle carrying one of the front wheels, a sleeve on the axle carrying the other 'front wheel, a frame secured to the lower part of the body of the vehicle at the front thereof, a universal driving connection for the said front axle and sleeve and carried by said frame, a segmental rack journaled at its ends on the said front axle and sleeve respectively and extending at the rear of said frame, the said rack having teeth on its upper face, a shaft journaled in bearings on the said frame, a pinion on said shaft and in mesh with the rack, the said pinion being under the control of the operator, and a member fulcrumed on said pinion shaft and having arms provided at their ends with friction rollers engaging the under face of said rack.

5. A driving gear for motor vehicles, comprising a front axle, a clutch connected with respectively and having spherical backs on a the front axle for rotating one of the front Wheels, a sleeve mounted to turn loosely on the front axle and provided with a clutch for rotating the other front Wheel, gear Wheels secured to the said front axle and the said sleeve respectively and having spherical backs on a common center, a ball socket in Which the said gear Wheels are mounted to turn, the said socket being provided at opposite sides With hollow flaring trunnions, bearings in Which the trunnions are mounted to turn, the said front axle and sleeve extending freely through the openings in the trunnions, a spider Within the said socket and carrying Witnesses:

MINNIE E. PHILLIPS, A. D. PHILLIIs. 

